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Baby names

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Original poster

Maria?

39 replies

Loliee · 31/12/2025 00:37

DH and I are expecting our first daughter. We have a shortlist of names but most of them aren’t names we both love. The only name we both like is Maria, but when DH mentioned it to MIL as being on our shortlist she said it was very old fashioned. We have Italian and English family so the name needs to work well in both languages.
We also have
Sofia
Anna
Elena
Emma

On our shortlist but they all have some sort of caveat. Thoughts?

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Kumquatzest · 09/01/2026 18:15

Maria is lovely. I don't think it's dated at all. It's still current especially in practicing Catholic families.

TheToteBagLady · 07/01/2026 13:56

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This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

Elleoeez · 04/01/2026 03:56

Love love it! She will be the only one in her class yet it is not unusual or ‘out there’ or hard to spell.

I love all your other names too, but Maria is my favourite as less common.

Don’t share any more names with MIL.

GameForTwo · 04/01/2026 03:18

It is quite old fashioned but I do know a teenager called Maria and it suits her.

Sofia and Anna are both lovely imo so I would choose one of those.

Hello19834 · 04/01/2026 01:44

Maria is absolutely gorgeous. A timeless classic and so pretty and elegant. It was on my list but I had a boy! I also love Anna. Sofia is pretty but I'd spell it Sophia.

Other favourites of mine that you may also like...

Lydia
Louisa
Annaliese
Helena
Elizabeth
Alexandra
Hannah
Christina

ZenNudist · 04/01/2026 00:18

I love it. A family member has this name. Beautiful and classic.

user1492757084 · 04/01/2026 00:14

Maria is a nice name, as are all on your list.

LikeNoYeah · 03/01/2026 12:14

It’s beautiful. Classic, timeless,

Firebird83 · 03/01/2026 12:10

I don’t see it as dated. It’s beautiful.

happydays312 · 03/01/2026 01:33

Ignore everyone else and choose what you like! Never ask family!! I love the name, as well as the others on your list! Maybe keep that list and decide once she's on your arms x

OhMaria2 · 03/01/2026 01:25

Superb name!

Jeschara · 03/01/2026 01:24

It's my daughters middle name and I love it too.

RuthW · 31/12/2025 17:55

Maria is lovely. I know a baby Maria. Definitely the best on your list.

LilyLemonade · 31/12/2025 14:10

I like it, it's very classic and yet not very common these days.

Bananalanacake · 31/12/2025 10:07

I love it.

Marcipix · 31/12/2025 10:05

I think it’s too dated, but fine as a middle name.
Sophia Maria
Elena Maria

deeahgwitch · 31/12/2025 10:04

I prefer Mariel or Marielle.

BoleynMemories13 · 31/12/2025 10:00

CeciliaC · 31/12/2025 09:19

I think it is a gorgeous name for a woman who is around my mums age (47), I think all of the Maria’s are still too young for the name to make a comeback.

Maybe in 30 years

It never really went away, but the 'comeback' you claim it's too early for is already well on the way, reflecting the multicultural society we now live in.

It's probably area dependant, but for people who live in areas with large Romanian, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Polish etc communities it wouldn't feel unusual at all to come across a young Maria.

https://names.darkgreener.com/#maria

Baby name explorer

https://names.darkgreener.com/#maria

BodenOrBodum · 31/12/2025 09:58

I'm partial, as my sister's name is Maria and dd's middle name too. Love it, much nicer than
Sofia
Anna
Emma

Kind of like Elena too.

Lins77 · 31/12/2025 09:55

I like it, but inevitably get a Blondie earworm.

I love Marianne.

BoleynMemories13 · 31/12/2025 09:53

It's still firmly in the top 100, used by many many Catholic families year upon year. I'm in a very multicultural area so I know of a few young girls called Maria. The ones I know have Romanian or Spanish heritage, but it works perfectly well to reflect Italian heritage too.

All the names on your list would work to reflect heritage. My personal favourite is Emma, followed by Anna and Maria. I understand why you would choose the Sofia spelling, but personally I much prefer Sophia (it's softer). Elena is not for me as it comes with pronunciation issues (people will say a mixture of Eh-lay-na, Eh-lah-na or Eh-lee-na when they see it written down).

CeciliaC · 31/12/2025 09:19

I think it is a gorgeous name for a woman who is around my mums age (47), I think all of the Maria’s are still too young for the name to make a comeback.

Maybe in 30 years

Denim4ever · 31/12/2025 09:18

I like Maria in both the trad and the Mariah pronunciation.

Re Elena - friends of ours have a daughter with this name and pronounce it like Eleanor with a na at the end El in na rather than El lay na

Lyonesse2020 · 31/12/2025 09:17

Definitely classic rather than old-fashioned. And has the benefit that it's quite uncommon now but everyone will still know how to spell it, which I think is helpful.

garlictwist · 31/12/2025 09:16

It’s nice. Quite catholic but that’s not an issue.

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